Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards
Encyclopedia
The Worshipful Company of Makers of Playing Cards is one of the Livery Companies
Livery Company
The Livery Companies are 108 trade associations in the City of London, almost all of which are known as the "Worshipful Company of" the relevant trade, craft or profession. The medieval Companies originally developed as guilds and were responsible for the regulation of their trades, controlling,...

 of the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...

. The Company was incorporated by Royal Charter granted by Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...

 with effect from 22 October 1628, and was granted Livery status on 27 November 1792 with a limit of a hundred members. On 21 July 1903 the limit was increased to 150. In order of precedence, the Makers of Playing Cards are No. 75, and the livery colours are red and white.

Originally the Company was created in order to regulate and control the importation of cheap playing card
Playing card
A playing card is a piece of specially prepared heavy paper, thin cardboard, plastic-coated paper, cotton-paper blend, or thin plastic, marked with distinguishing motifs and used as one of a set for playing card games...

s, to protect the card makers and their families, and to maintain quality. The Crown received the benefit of the duties levied by the Company agreeing to pay a tax on all packs, and the ace of spades
Ace of Spades
At least in English-speaking countries, the ace of spades is traditionally seen as the highest card in the deck of playing cards, although the actual value of the card varies from game to game...

 was chosen to show the tax. Every maker of playing cards had to have a mark of his own enrolled to indicate recognition of his name. The excise duty on playing cards was abolished on 4 April 1960, as the cost of administration had become excessive.

The true origin of the Company’s coat of arms is unknown, but an official Grant of Arms was presented on 31 March 1982. The shield shows the four suits with an upright hand holding an ace of hearts. The motto is ‘Corde Recto Elati Omnes’ meaning ‘with an upright heart all will be exalted’.

Playing cards

Since 1882 the Company has designed and presented an annual double pack of playing cards to each liveryman and freeman of the Company at the installation of the new Master. Since 1888, a portrait of the Master has appeared at the centre of the ace of spades, and the design chosen and developed by the Master has traditionally commemorated an event of importance occurring in the twelve months leading up to the Master’s year in office, such as the Company’s first Lord Mayor and Sheriff, or some royal or historical celebration. The Company maintains and expands its world famous collection of playing cards first presented by Past Master Henry Phillips in 1907 and housed by arrangement with the City of London at the London Metropolitan Archives
London Metropolitan Archives
The London Metropolitan Archives are the main archives for the Greater London area. Established in 1997, having previously been known as the Greater London Record Office, they are financed by the City of London Corporation....

. The Company is undertaking a project to make digitised images of the collection available for internet access.

The Charitable Trust

Formed in 1943, in the year of the Mastership of Lindsay Cutler, and administered by trustees, the funds accumulated by members’ donations and fundraising generate income used to help those under the age of 25 for educational purposes as well as financial aid to overcome hardship and distress. Benefactors include the Lord Mayor’s Appeal and various hospices.

The Company today

Since the formation of the Company in the Middle Ages when playing cards were the sole entertainment for the population, the production and use of playing cards in London has declined. Today the Company still has cardmakers as members. However the Company has many other members connected with playing cards in some way including card collectors, dealers, bridge players, magicians and other professions.

The Company has several affiliations recognising the role that the Armed Services provide. Their affiliations include the submarine HMS Turbulent
HMS Turbulent
Five vessels of the British Royal Navy have been named HMS Turbulent: was a launched in 1805 and captured by the Danes captured in 1808. She was sold in 1814. was a Talisman-class destroyer launched in 1916. She served in World War I and was sunk at the battle of Jutland on 1 June 1916. was an...

, naval destroyer HMS Diamond
HMS Diamond
Several ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Diamond., a 50-gun ship launched at Deptford in 1652 and captured by France in 1693., a fifth-rate 50 gun ship launched at Blackwall Yard in 1708 and rebuilt at Deptford Dockyard in 1722, sold in 1744., a fifth-rate launched at Limehouse in 1741...

 and 19 Company; Middlesex & NW London Army Cadet Force
Army Cadet Force
The Army Cadet Force is a British youth organisation that offers progressive training in a multitude of the subjects from military training to adventurous training and first aid, at the same time as promoting achievement, discipline, and good citizenship, to boys and girls aged 12 to 18 and 9...

.

External links

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